Monday, January 07, 2013

Calvin forward Tom Snikkers has been named the MIAA’s Co-Player of the Week in men’s basketball. Snikkers shares the award this week with Ian Jackson of Trine University. A senior from Jenison (Hudsonville Unity Christian HS), Snikkers averaged 18 points and 7.5 rebounds as the Knights opened MIAA play with a pair of victories. He had 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in a 56-50 victory over previously unbeaten Adrian, then scored 24 points and pulled down seven rebounds in a 66-63 road win at Albion. Snikkers, who is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time this season and second time in his career, shot 58 percent from the field (14 of 24) and 70 percent from the line (7 of 10) for the week. Calvin returns to action this week when it travels to Kalamazoo for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Saturday, January 05, 2013

ALBION - A determined Albion homecourt effort forced the Calvin men’s basketball team to dig down deep - and in the closing minutes, Calvin found an extra gear to hang on for a 66-63 conference victory at Albion’s venerable Kresge Gymnasium. Calvin (11-2 overall, 2-0 MIAA) was led by senior Tom Snikkers who tallied 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting to go with seven rebounds. Sophomore Jordan Brink had 16 points including 10 in the second half. Senior David Rietema added eight points, four rebounds and two assists. Calvin shot 40.7 percent overall but connected on just 20 percent (4-of-20) from three-point range. The Knights did connect on 18-of-22 (.818) at the charity stripe however while Albion was 9-of-12 (.750) at the free throw line. Calvin will travel to Kalamazoo next Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m contest at the Anderson Athletic Center.

Saturday, January 05, 2013

ANGOLA, IN - The second-ranked Calvin women’s basketball team claimed a 64-36 victory at Trine University Saturday afternoon, improving to 11-1 overall and to 5-0 in the MIAA. Calvin rode the hot hand of senior sharpshooter Kelsey Irwin in the first half and then used stifling defensive pressure in the second half to roll to the win.Irwin (Fraser/Fraser HS) was 5-of-6 from three-point range in the first half - en route to a game-high 15 points. Irwin connected on her first five three-pointers, allowing her to move past 1995 graduate Cheryl Essenburg and into second place on the Calvin career three-point field goal list. Irwin now has 155 triples in her career and amazingly has recorded just a pair of two-point field goals in her career. She is 29-of-60 from three-point range this year for a 48.3 percent three-point clip and has converted 155-of-378 three-point field goal attempts for a career three-point clip of 41.0 percent. Kristen McDonald (2005 grad) is Calvin’s career three-point field goal leader with 187.

Friday, January 04, 2013

The Calvin women’s basketball team has risen up to the number-two spot in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. The poll was released Wednesday evening. Calvin had been ranked third in the previous four polls but moved up a spot this week with DePauw University holding down the top spot. Calvin and DePauw are part of five teams from the Great Lakes Region that are in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll as Hope is ranked sixth, Ohio Northern ranked 12th and Mount Union ranked 13th. Calvin will travel to Trine University on Saturday for a 3 p.m. contest. The game will feature a live audio broadcast and a live stats scoreboard.

Thursday, January 03, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. Ė The Calvin College menís basketball team hosted #7 Adrian College in the MIAA conference opener for both teams. The Knights defeated the Bulldogs 56-50 in a defensive battle at Van Noord Arena. Powell and Kruis led the way for Calvin with 14 points. Snikkers scored 12 points and hauled in eight rebounds. Lewis led the way for Adrian in defeat with 17 points. Calvin out-rebounded Adrian 39-31 in the contest. The Knights shot 87 percent from the charity strip (13-15). Adrian (11-1) will travel to DeVos Fieldhouse to face Hope on Saturday, Jan. 5. Calvin (10-2) will travel to Kresge Gymnasium to face the Britons of Albion College.